Planning Appeals, Clandestine Policy Making, and Student Housing

Governmental policy-making is expected to be a transparent, public endeavour led by local or central government. In contemporary democracies, processes of policy-making often include consultations with the public and key stakeholders. In planning, such processes often engage key sectors, such as the building sector and developers, planning professionals outside government and relevant NGOs and public representatives. The preparation of key statuary documents such as the Local Development Plan includes a period of consultation, scrutiny by local councillors and other forms of oversight. Yet policy is also made through activities and processes that are not specifically designated to do so and are consequently less scrutinized and less accountable. This seminar will demonstrate how planning policy is created through appeals related to contested student accommodation in Edinburgh.

Bio

Tahl Kaminer is Senior Lecturer in Design and Theory in ESALA. He has published the monographs The Efficacy of Architecture (Routledge, 2017) and Architecture, Crisis and Resuscitation (Routledge, 2011), and edited a number of anthologies and journal issues. Tahl was involved in founding and running of Footprint (2007-12) and of 66 East (2004-8), an exhibition space and non-profit in Amsterdam.

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 5929507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a "Recognised Body" which has been granted degree awarding powers.